What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was flying from kotzebue to Nome Alaska, in marginal VMC. He deviated his route to the west and flew into a mountainous area. He observed deteriorating weather in his direction of travel. He looked down at his GPS and lost situational awareness and flew into IMC. He became disoriented and turned right to escape and he impacted terrain.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS FLYING FROM KOTZEBUE TO NOME ALASKA, IN MARGINAL VMC. HE DEVIATED HIS ROUTE TO THE WEST AND FLEW INTO A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. HE OBSERVED DETERIORATING WEATHER IN HIS DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS GPS AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND FLEW INTO IMC. HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND TURNED RIGHT TO ESCAPE AND HE IMPACTED TERRAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.